Clothespin



A r i, 1952 J. M. OLSEN 21,591,596

CLOTHESPIN I Filed Oct. 31, 1949 3nventor:

Johannes Mart n O'SQH (Ittorneg Patented Apr. 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHESPIN Johannes Martin Olsen, Slagelse, Denmark Application October 31, 1949, Serial No. 124,545 In Sweden March 22, 1949 the two parts are pressed together at the operating end against the action of the spring.

An object of the invention is to provide a clothes peg of the above type which is of great strength and durability an has a powerful grip and in which the spring joining the two parts of the peg is securely kept in place during the handling and use of the peg.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothes peg in which the risk of rupture of the spring joining the two parts of the peg is reduced to a minimum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothes peg adapted to be readily dried, especially in order to remove moisture from the inside faces of the two parts of the peg.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothes peg shaped in such a manner that handling of the peg, especially in a wet state, is facilitated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a clothes peg which is particularly adapted to manufacture in mass production.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description by way of example of a clothes peg embodying the various features of the present invention. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to this specific embodiment and that modifications are conceivable within the scope of this invention. Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a side view of the peg, and

Fig.2 is a section on the line II in Fig. 1.

The peg shown in the drawings is composed of two parts I and 2 of suitable material, preferably of beech wood, the grain of which extends in the longitudinal direction of the said parts.

Each of the parts I and 2 has a fastening end, 3 and 4, respectively, and an opposite operating end, 5 and 6, respectively. The fastening ends 3 and 4 have a recess on either inside face, I and 8, respectively, forming a groove for the clothes rope. At the operating end of the peg the parts I and 2 have a thickness inferior to that of the fastening parts 3 and 4 so as to form a substantially rectangular intermediate space. At the 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-138) innermost end of this space, a longitudinal slit 9 and I0, respectively, is formed in each of the f parts I and 2 approximately at the middle portion thereof. These slits form elongated longitudinal projections II and I2, respectively, extending from the appertaining part of the peg in the direction of the operating ends 5 and 6. An U-shaped leaf-spring I3 is inserted in the said slits, the two legs of the said spring engaging the projections II and I2 and being firmly wedged in the said slits. The saidlegs are bent in such a manner that in either slit they are bearing against the outer wall of the slit at the top and bottom thereof, an against the inner wall of the said slit at some intermediate point, i. e. at the bending lines.

of the said legs, but not otherwise touching the walls of the slit. The width of the said leaf-' spring is approximately equal to the thickness of the parts I and 2, as appears from Fig. 2.

When the spring I 3 is unstressed, the fre ends of the same will be closed to each other, and, if desired, may even rest against each other. In the position shown in the drawing, the spring is under tension, and this tension is further increased when the operating ends of the peg are pressed together.

In this manner a clothes peg is obtained which has a powerful grip.

When pressing th operating ends 5 and 6 together, the parts I and 2 will turn aroun the lower point of contact between the legs of the spring I3 and the inside wall of the said parts I and 2, whereby the fastening ends of the peg will be opened against the action of the spring. As soon as the operating ends again are released, the fastening ends will be firmly close due to the action of the spring.

The spring I3 has rounded corners at each point of bending. This on one hand facilitates working of the spring and operating of the parts 5 and 6, and, furthermore reduces the risk of rupture of the spring as a result of the use of the peg wherein the said spring is repeatedly bent, especially the portion adjacent the transverse portion I4 of the said spring. This transverse portion I4 is slightly curved with its convex side turned towards the ends of the projections I I and I2. This also facilitates the working of the spring and minimizes the rick of rupture.

As shown in Fig. 1, the outer bent ends of the spring legs are designed to cut slightly into the outer walls of the slits 9 and I0 when the spring I3 is inserted into the slit from the side. Thus the spring is securely kept in place in the peg during the handling of the same.

In the embodiment shown the transverse part 14 of the spring l3 has such a length that the outer walls of the two projections H and 12, are slightly spaced apart when the fastening ends 3 and 4 are kept together under the action of the spring. Thus an intermediate space is formed facilitating the ready removal of moisture from the inside faces of the peg, when wet, and thereby reducing the risk of warping of the peg parts to a minimum.

The operating ends 5 and 6 of the peg in the embodiment shown are provided with external recesses l5 and 16. These recesses facilitate the handling of the peg, especially when the latter is wet or is handled with wet fingers. A plain peg will easily slip from the fingers when pressing the operating parts of the peg together in order to open the fastening part.

The two halves of the peg are completely identical and may be easily machine-produced.-

When the said parts are fed in pairs to a press, the spring can very simply be pressed into place in theslits 9. and I0. The. leaf spring is also exceedingly easy to produce-and requires relatively little material.

The spring in the peg. disclosed cannot be obstructive, asit possesses no parts protruding from thepeg;

I-claim as my invention;

1. In a clothes. peg comprising two parts, each of the. said parts comprising. a fastening portion provided with a clothes ropeengaging groove and an opposite handling portion, and a:substantially U-shaped leaf-spring keepingthe two parts assembled: together, a preformed longitudinal slit in the approximate middle inside portion of each of said parts and extending in the direction of thefastening portion through the whole depth of the said portion, said slit forming an elongated projection extending longitudinally from the appertaining part of the peg' in the direction of the handling portion of the same, the substantially U-shaped leaf-spring engaging the said projections so as to keep the two parts assembled together, the legs of the said spring being bent in such a manner that in each slit they bear against the outerwall of the slit near the top and bottom thereof and bear against theinner wall of the said slit at an intermediate point thereof, butnot otherwise touching the walls of the slit, the extremities of the spring legs being of such a length and bending to cut slightly into the outer wall of the slits.

2. A clothes peg according to claim 1, and whereinsaid. U-shaped leaf-spring has rounded corners at each point of bending, the transverse portion of said spring being slightly curved with its convex side turned towards the ends of the said projections.

JOHANNES MARTIN OLSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the.

file of: this patent: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,185,956 Supplee June 6, 1916 1,259,458 Norris Mar. 12, 1918 2,303,961 Sprague Dec. 1, 1942 2,409,379 Mosaly Oct. 15, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date.

634,684 Germany Sept. 2, 1936' 

